Piano accordion



Feb. 16, 1937. M. H. BERLIN PIANO ACCORDION 4 Shets-Sheet 1 Filed June 25, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 16, 1937. M. H. BERLIN PIANO ACCORDION Filed June 25, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Feb. 16, 1937. M. H. BERLIN 2,070,353

PIANO ACCORDION Filed June 25, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Feb. 16, 1937 UNITED STATES 2,070,853 PIANO acoonmon Maurice H. Berlin, Chicago, 111. assignor to Chicago Musical Instrument Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application June 25, 1936, Serial No. smss 8 Claims. (01. 84-376) This invention relates to piano accordions and more particularly to means for actuating the slides which control the passage of air through the reed holders and thereby render operative one or more sets of reeds in the treble mechanism.

Piano accordions of the character herein shown and described comprise four double formation reed holders, the sets of reeds being tuned to produce the 1ow,middle, middle-tremolo and high tone ranges, respectively, for the conventional white and black keys. The apertured slides which control the operativeness of the reeds heretofore have been actuated by control means consisting of a plurality of manually operated switches, each switch being operatively connected with the slides of one set of reeds or with the slides of a combination of two or more sets of reeds. In prior art constructions only one switch is operable at a time. The number of tone ranges and combinations of tone ranges which can be produced by such constructions are limited, therefore, by the number of switches provided.

Four sets of reeds in conventional piano accordions potentially provide fifteen different tone ranges and combinations of tone ranges. For example, if a piano accordion embodies four sets of reeds, namely, low range, middle range, middletremolo and high, designated for convenience 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively, the following fifteen tone ranges and combinations of tone ranges should be available to the player: 1, 2, 3, 4, 1-2, 2-3, 3-4, 1-3, 1-4, 2-4, 1-2-3, 2-3-4, 1-2-4, 1-3-4, and 1-2-3-4. Heretofore seven of these have been the maximum available because the provision of a greater number of single switches and operative connections between each switch and one or more sets of reed slides is impractical and undesirable. The provision of a separate switch or control device for each tone range and for each combination of two or more tone ranges is objectionable because of the excessive number of such separate switches and operative connections required for optimum efiiciency of operation of the accordion, and also because the particular switch to be operated frequently is not easily accessible to the player.

The main object of this invention is to provide means whereby the maximum possible number of tone ranges orcombinations of tone ranges obtainable from diii'erently tuned sets of reeds may be proved conveniently by the player, either successively or simultaneously.

Another object is to make available the maximum number of tone ranges and combinations of tone ranges, afforded by the differently tuned sets of reeds, by the actuation of one or a plurality of simultaneouslyoperable switches, the number of such switches being equal to the number of sets of reeds.

Another object is to locate the means for actuating the control slides of the reeds so as to be easily and quickly accessible to the player.

Another object is to provide duplicate or triplicate sets of switches, operatively connected with each other, for increasing the accessibility of the switches.

Other objects and advantages will be disclosed by the following specification.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to an accordion embodying any particular number of sets of reeds or of switch devices.

The words a set of reeds as used herein means the reeds which produce one of several tone ranges for the black and white keys. Such reeds are conventionally arranged in two rows, one for the black and the other for the white. They may be carried by one or more reed holders.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a transverse vertical sectional view of the treble mechanism and keyboard of a piano accordion embodying one example of my invention, the section being taken in the plane of the line l-l of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view, taken in the plane of the broken line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal horizontal sectional view, taken in the plane of the broken line 3-3 of Fi 1.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the control mechanism for actuating the slides which control the operativeness of the reeds, said mechanism being shown as detached from the housing and associated parts.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a detail, taken in the plane of the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

In that embodiment of my invention which I have chosen to illustrate in the drawings, the treble mechanism housing is indicated at I0 and the bellows at II. The conventional piano keyboard comprises white keys I 2 and black keys 13. The white keys i2 actuate valves I4 on levers l5 and valves IS on levers ll integral with levers IS. The black keys l3 actuate valves l8 onlevers i9 and valves 20 on levers not visible in Fig. 1 but integral with levers I9. I 8 cover openings in the adjacent wall 2| beneath which the reed holders 22, 23 and 24 are mounted, and the valves l6 and 20 cover openings in the adjacent wall 25 opposite which the reed holder The valves l4 and 26 is mounted. In the present embodiment the reeds of the holder 22 provide the middle and middle-tremolo tone ranges, respectively, for the white keys I2, and the reeds of the holder 24 provide the middle and middle-tremolo tone ranges, respectively, for the black keys l3. The reeds of the holder 23 provide the high tone range for the white and black keys and the reeds of the holder 26 provide the lowest tone range for both'white and black keys. This arrangement may be varied.

The reeds are rendered operative by the actuation of apertured slides located in the reed holders adjacent the valve covered openings in the walls 2| and 25. Two slides are provided for each of the reed holders 22, 23, 24 and 26, respectively. The slides are indicated at 21, 28, 29, 30, 3|, 32, 33 and 34, respectively (Figs. 1 and 4) The means for actuating the slides which control the .operativeness of the several sets of reeds will now be described. The slides are actuated in pairs, that is, one slide for the white and one for the black keys for each of the four sets of tone ranges provided by the particular accordion illustrated. In the present embodiment, therefore, slides 21 and 3| are actuated together to render operative'the middle tone range for white and black keys, respectively; slides 28 and 32 are actuated together to render operative the middletremolo tone range for white and black keys, respectively; slides 29 and 30 are actuated together to render operative the high tone range for white and black keys, respectively; and slides 33 and 34 are actuated together to render operative the low tone range for white and black keys, respectively.

The slides are operatively connected to manually actuated devices which preferably are in the form of keys but may be of any other suitable form. Only four of such devices or switches are essential in an accordion provided with four sets of reeds, but in the preferred embodiment,

three setsifqof four keys each have been provided in order to make the keys to be actuated easily accessible to the player. The switch keys are located adjacent the normal key board as best shown in Figs. 1 and 2, being designated 35, 36,

31,38, 39, 40, 4|, 42,43, 44, 45 and 46, respectively. The first four keys constitute a set, the next four a duplicate set, and the remaining four another duplicate set. The smaller intermediate keys 41, 48, 49, 50, 5|, 52, 53, 54 and 55, are provided for facilitating the manual actuation of two adjacent switch keys. For example, by depressing the key 41 the player simultaneously actuates the keys 35 and 36. The switch keys and intermediate keys are pivotally mounted on a rod 56, as best shown in Fig. 5, said rod 56 being suitably fixed in the side walls of the housing I0. The intermediate keys automatically return to normal position after having been depressed, but the switch keys 35 to 46, inclusive, remain in normal or depressed position according to the will of the operator.

The operative connections between the switch keys and slides will be best understood by reference to Fig. 4. Four longitudinally extending shafts 51, 58, 59 and 60 are pivotally mounted in the side walls of the housing I0 and supported on suitable intermediate supports 6| Switch keys 35, 39 and 43 are each connected to one of said shafts, namely, the shaft 58, by means of a lever 62 on each of said keys, a link 63 pivotally connected to each lever 62, and an arm 64 rigidly connected to the shaft 58 and piv- (Fig. 3).

otally connected to said link 63. Thus the manual actuation of any of said keys 35, 39 or 43 will rock the shaft 58. Similarly, switch keys 36, 40 and 44 are each connected to one of said shafts, namely, the shaft 60, by means of a lever 65, link 66, and arm 61, whereby the manual actuation of any of said keys 36, 40 or 44 will rock the shaft 60, as explained in connection with shaft 58. Also, switch keys 31, 4| and 45 are each connected to another of said shafts, namely, the shaft 59, by means of a. lever 68 on each of said keys, link 69 and arm 10, whereby manual actuation of any of said keys 31, 4| and 45 will rock said shaft 59. The remaining keys 38, 42 and 46, are each similarly connected to the shaft 51, by a lever 1|, link 12 and arm 13, whereby manual actuation of any of said keys 38, 42 or 46 will rock the shaft 51. Actuation of a plurality of said switch keys of any of the sets will of course rock a plurality of said shafts 51, 58, 59 and 60. a

The operative connections between each of sai shafts 51, 5a, 5a and so and the slides for controlling the reeds comprise substantially similar parts. The shaft 51 has a depending arm 14 rigidly connected to the shaft, a link 15 pivotally connected to the arm 14, a bell crank lever pivotally mounted at 16 on a support, the lever having one of its arms 11 pivotally connected to the link 15 and its other arm 18 slotted for engagement with a pin 19 extending through a slidable bar in a guideway 8|, said pin 19 being attached at its lower end to a lever 82 pivotally connected to an arm 83 rigidly connected to the vertical, pivotally mounted shaft 84, and said shaft 84 has a second arm 85 rigidly secured to it with the free end of the arm 85 adapted to engage communicating slots 86 in the slides 33 and 34 of the reed holder 26. Thus any one of the switch keys 38, 42 or 46, connected with shaft 51, actuates the slides for the low tone range reeds 26 through the operative connections just described.

The operative connections between the shaft 58 and slides 29 and 30 of the high tone range reed holder 23 comprise parts substantially the same as those just described in connection with the shaft 51. They include the rigidly connected arm 81 on the shaft 58, pivotally connected link 88, bell crank lever pivotally supported at 89, one arm 90 of the lever being connected to link 88, the other arm 9| engaging pin 92 extending through slidable bar 93 in guideway 94, pin 92 being attached to lever 95 pivotally connected to an arm 96 rigidly connected to a horizontal, pivotally mounted shaft 91, which has two arms 98 rigidly secured to it for engagement at their free ends with apertures 99 in the slides 29 and 30. Thus any one of the switch keys 35, 39 or 43, connected with shaft 58, actuates the slides for the high tone range reeds which in this embodiment are in reed holder 23.

The operative connections between the shaft 59 and slides 28 and 32 of the middle-tremolo tone range, which in the present embodiment are located in reed holders 22 and 24, comprise the following: a rigidly connected arm I00 on shaft 59, pivotally connected link IIII, bell crank lever pivotally supported at I02, one arm I03 connected to the link IOI and the other arm I04 en gaging pin I05 extending through slidable bar I06 in guideway I01, the pin I05 being attached to a lever I08 pivotally connected to an arm I09 rigidly connected to a horizontal, pivotally mounted shaft 0 which has two arms III rigidly secured to it for engagement at their free ends with apertures H2 in the slides 28 and 32. Thus any one of the switch keys 31, H or 45, connected with the shaft 59, actuates the slides for the middle-tremolo tone range reeds which in this embodiment are in reed holders 22 and 24.

The operative connections between the shaft 60 and slides 21 and 3| of the middle tone range, which in the present embodiment are located in reed holders 22 and 24, comprise the following:

a rigidly connected arm II3 on shaft 60, pivot ally connected link I I4, bell crank lever pivotthe link II 4 and the other arm III engaging pin II 8 extending through slidable bar H9 in guideway I20, the pin I I8 being attached to a lever I2I pivotally connected to an arm I22 rigidly connected to a horizontal, pivotally mounted shaft I23 which has two arms I24 rigidly secured to it for engagement at their free ends with apertures I25 in the slides 21 and 3|. Thus any one of the switch keys 36, 40 or 44, connected with the shaft 60, actuates the slides for the middle tone range reeds which in this embodiment are in reed holders 22 and 24.

It will be understood that the depressing of any of the switch keys will rock one of the shafts 51, 58, 59 or 60, and that the rocking motion will transmit sliding motion to one of the pins 19, 92, I05 or II8 which through their respective connections will produce rocking motion of one of the shafts 84, 91, I II) or I23, and such rocking motion of any of said shafts will cause the rigidly attached arms to actuate two of the several slide members which control the passage of air through the reed holders. Actuation of a plurality of the switch keys of any set of keys will rock a corresponding number of shafts (51, 58, 58 or 60) and the associated slide members will be actuated simultaneously. Thus the player may render operative all or any part of-the reed sets by manipulation of the switch keys, with or without the aid of the intermediate keys whereby two switch keys may be depressed by means of one intermediate key. It will be understood that the intermediate keys are not operatively connected with any of the reed mechanism. They merely contact with adjacent switch keys and facilitate the manipulation when two or more switch keys are to be depressed simultaneously. Fifteen different tone ranges or combinations of tone ranges may be produced by manipulation of one or more of four switch keys in an accordion provided with four sets of reeds. 7

Changes may be made in details of construction without departing from the scope of my invention and I do not intend to be limited to the exact form shown and described, except as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:-

1. A piano accordion comprising a housing, a plurality of sets of reeds in the housing, slidable means for each set of reeds for controlling the passage of air, a plurality of manually and simultaneously operable switches, and operative connections between each of said switches and the slidable means of a set of reeds for actuating said slidable means.

2. A piano accordion comprising a housing, a plurality of sets of reeds in the housing, slidable means for each set of reeds for controlling the passage of air, a plurality of manually and simultaneously operable switches, and operative connections between each of said switches and the slidable means of a set of reeds for actuating said slidable means, said operative connections com- I shafts for transmitting rocking motion, means on the transverse shafts for engaging the prising a plurality of longitudinally disposed rock shafts pivotally supported in the housing, each ofsaid shafts being operatively connected to one of said switches, a plurality of transversely disposed rock shafts pivotally supported in the housing, operative connections between each of said longitudinal shafts and one of said transverse and slidable means and transmitting longitudinal movement to said slidable means.

3. A piano accordion comprising a housing, a plurality of sets of reeds in the housing, slidable means for each set of ,reeds for controlling the passage of air, a plurality of manually and simultaneously operable switches, and operative connections between each of said switches and the slidable means of a set of reeds for actuating said slidable means, said operative connections comprising a plurality of longitudinally disposed rock shafts pivotally supported in the housing, each of said shafts being operatively connected to one of said switches, and operative connections between each of said shafts and the slidable means of a set of reeds.

4. A piano accordion comprising a housing, a keyboard, a plurality of sets of reeds in the housing, control means for each set of reeds for controlling the passage of air, a plurality of switch keys pivotally mounted adjacent the normal keyboard, operative connections between each of said switch keys and the control means of a set of reeds, the switch keys being operable simultaneously to actuate any desired number of said control means for the reeds.

5. A piano accordion comprising a housing, a keyboard, a plurality of sets of reeds in the housing, control means for each set of reeds for controlling the passage of air, a plurality of switch keys pivotally mounted adjacent the normal keyboard, a plurality of pivotally mounted shafts, each shaft being connected with a plurality of said switch keys, and operative connections between each shaft and the control means of a set of reeds.

6. A piano accordion comprising a housing, a keyboard, a plurality of sets of reeds in the housing, control means for each set of reeds for controlling the passage of air, a plurality of switch keys pivotally mounted adjacent the normal keyboard, a plurality of pivotally mounted shafts, each shaft being connected with a plurality of said switch keys, and operative connections be tween each shaft and the control means of a set of reeds, said last mentioned connections com prising an arm rigidly connected to the shaft, 2. bell crank lever having one arm pivotally connected with the arm on the shaft and its other arm slotted. a pin movably mounted in a support in engagement with the lever arm, a transversely extending rock shaft, means between the pin and rock shaft for transmitting rocking motion to the shaft, and means on the rock shaft engaging said reed control means to actuate the same.

7. A piano accordion comprising a housing, a keyboard, a plurality of sets of reeds in the housing, control means for each set of reeds for controlling the passage of air, a plurality of switch keys and intermediate keys pivotally mounted in a row adjacent the normal keyboard, and operative connections between the switch keys and the reed control means, each of said intermediate keys overlying two switch keys whereby manipulation of an intermediate key actuates two switch keys.

8. A piano accordion comprising a housing, a keyboard, a plurality of sets of reeds in the housing, control means for each set of reeds 15' controlling the' passage of air, a plurality of switch keys pivotally mounted adjacent the normal keyboard, means connecting a. plurality of said switch keys whereby actuation of one will actuate the others of the group, and operative connections between said means and the control means of a set of reeds.

MAURICE H. BERLIN. 

